Race Retro 2019

Is anyone else making the trip to Stoneleigh this year? I skipped the Autosport Show in January for the first time in a couple of decades and can't say I've missed it, but I've just bought a ticket to Race Retro.

I emailed and asked about the free parking as last year we were parked up in a rather wet field, which I thought was daft considering the amount of hard standing at Stoneleigh. It'll be the same this year apparently, unless you fork out an extra £16.

Yes, will be there on the Saturday. The show has become a must for me, the Brian Redman interview last year was worth the ticket on its own.... I note the feature of celebrating Mike Hawthorn this year. Mike was my very first hero. I had just turned ten when he died. The August before, my Dad had taken his family to the Grosser Preis von Deutschland, driving all the way from Oslo in our '39 Studebaker. My Dad had shaken Mike's hand at Le Mans in 1955, and to me, Mike seemed a great sportsman in the best British tradition, and man who would have been an RAF pilot had he been born a few years earlier. My Dad told me to look for the driver wearing a black helmet...and on entering the Nurburgring Fahrerlager, the first red car I saw had a driver wearing a black helmet...I was awestruck for a few seconds, until I realised it was Gurney in the little Osca sports-racer.

I did get to see Mike and Peter Collins, and I clearly recall seeing Mike turn his head and look behind him, as if willing Collins still to be there...just a few corners after Collins had somersaulted at the Pflanzgarten.

I'm going for the first time as Motorsport are borrowing my Lotus Eleven for the Hawthorn tribute. I'm taking the whole family so is there anything I should definitely see before the boys get too fractious?

Yes, will be there on the Saturday. The show has become a must for me, the Brian Redman interview last year was worth the ticket on its own.... I note the feature of celebrating Mike Hawthorn this year. Mike was my very first hero. I had just turned ten when he died. The August before, my Dad had taken his family to the Grosser Preis von Deutschland, driving all the way from Oslo in our '39 Studebaker. My Dad had shaken Mike's hand at Le Mans in 1955, and to me, Mike seemed a great sportsman in the best British tradition, and man who would have been an RAF pilot had he been born a few years earlier. My Dad told me to look for the driver wearing a black helmet...and on entering the Nurburgring Fahrerlager, the first red car I saw had a driver wearing a black helmet...I was awestruck for a few seconds, until I realised it was Gurney in the little Osca sports-racer.

I did get to see Mike and Peter Collins, and I clearly recall seeing Mike turn his head and look behind him, as if willing Collins still to be there...just a few corners after Collins had somersaulted at the Pflanzgarten.

I visited a man's shop in Ilford, Essex the day after and there was a stand promoting driving gloves by Mike Hawthorn, presumably a marketing exercise that was doomed to fail as I never saw them again.

Have been every year since day 1 and will be there again on Friday, but it has certainly had its ups and downs. Hooking up with Motor Sport has been a positive help but it does seem to struggle to retain the major exhibitors.who were present in the early years. Last week at Retromobile all the major British and European historic racing/sports car dealers were in evidence with large stands but I suspect none of them will be at Stoneleigh. I think the balance has certainly tipped towards the French capital as the choice location for displaying of star lots

Has anyone seen a timetable for the guest speakers/interviews and the like?
I signed up for the ‘newsletter’ emails, but am not getting any useful information.

I know Frank Dernie will be there on the Friday and will be doing something with the organisers of Race Retro if that helps?

Just wanted to let anyone who is attending Race Retro know that there may be the possibility to meet Frank Dernie (on Friday 22/2/19) at Performance Publishing's stand where I shall also be present (all weekend). FYI Frank Dernie was a KEY contributor towards my recently released book. More details on this is contained within this link; https://mailchi.mp/c... ... Duh7JM-lEY and please be aware at the moment the times Frank will be on our stand are TBC depending on Frank's availability on the day. If i know that in advance I will post that here.

I've already met a couple of Autosport forum members, so would love to meet others.

Also if anyone wants to see why the book is getting such good reviews like on that above link or my social media pages for instance, you can obviously browse through the book as long as you want and ask me any questions at Race Retro. There are some quite interesting theories contain within the book like this one; https://www.msn.com/...U1i0C5sNqkdqHcM (which Frank Dernie and other F1 insiders helped with) so Race Retro is your ideal chance to find out more behind this. For those not attending Race Retro you can read a free sample here; https://www.performa...-f1-season.html

Final note, just to say I did request & was granted permission by a Mod to mention the book before writing this post, Thanks & looking forward to Friday

Thanks for this. Frank's one of my favourite motorsport people so ill try and catch up with you both if all goes well.

I like Frank too, he received an approach out of the blue from an unknown budding author and unlike so many people he responded for which I am eternally grateful for. Another highlight of this project was whenever his emails popped up. As you would expect from such a legendary F1 engineer, his insight was exceptional. I also know Frank is currently helping another unknown author, doing so not for the publicity but purely for the love of their sport. Great guy!

@Ensign14 As a thank you for your help with the book, I would like to offer you a free contributor copy. So if your going to Race Retro perhaps I can give it to you then?

If you won't be there, I've just forwarded my email from Novmeber (offering you that free contributor copy). Just let me know your address that way so I can send it to you instead